Sound Off: Obama looks weak in dealings with Putin

Alexei Nikolsky Presidential Press Service Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a nationally televised question-and-answer session in Moscow. Putin is seen as a ruthless, but smart, world leader by the Times-Union Email Interactive Group.

Vladimir Putin has generated much controversy during his presidency of Russia. We asked members of the Times-Union/Jacksonville.com Email Interactive Group for their opinions of Putin as a leader and whether they think President Barack Obama has dealt with him wisely. Here is a representative sampling of their responses:

Well, for starters, Vladimir Putin does not think that the U.S. is the greatest nation on earth. Not anymore. His recent annexation of the Crimean peninsula without as much as a sympathetic scramble of fighter jets or the rumble of armored tanks by a concerned NATO, confirmed that thought for him. ... Whether war is inevitable or not does not matter much to wily and ruthless Putin. He longs of the greatness of the old aristocratic Russia, of the resurrection of heroes he worshipped, of the richness of the bloodlines that flow in the veins of Slavic peoples. It is unlikely that Putin is trying to dumbfound Obama, though he clearly does not have rapport with the U.S. president. It is likely Putin believes that the time has come to make his move on the biggest chess board. It helped that in the recent past the U.S. made weak moves on that chess board, allowing the autocratic Russian president to maneuver at will and make bold and unchecked advances.

Antonio R. Sievert, Orange Park

Vladimir Putin is one smart cookie. By his moves to take over most of the countries that touch Russia’s borders, he hopes it will again rebuild his country in to a complete super power he knew as a youth. He was schooled that the only government is a communist government. President Obama’s proposed threat of sanctions is proof of his lack of basic economics. His repeated threat that he can ruin the ruble and Putin by shutting down the supply of their oil, proves this. He fails to understand that pricing of a commodity is totally governed by supply and demand. By reducing the amount of oil available, the resulting increase of gasoline prices here will be unbearable. Historians someday will analyze who was hurt the most by this action, Russia or the U.S.

Albert Rabassa, Jacksonville

Vladimir Putin, who has a long and bloody history in the KGB, has been a bad guy for decades. He is apparently trying to restore Tsarist Russia wielding an iron fist inside an iron glove. Now that he has used up all the goodwill he generated at the Sochi games, he feels there is nothing left to lose in beginning the annexation of the former socialist republics. While I do not believe our country should get into another war, our president has been woefully inept in his response to the Putin land grab. Appeasing Putin will have the same effect that Chamberlain had on appeasing Hitler.

Richard Klinzman, Middleburg

I think that President Obama properly is in his face, communicating we (America) are completely aware of his behavior and we don’t like it. You don’t back down from him but continue to send the message there is a hard boot waiting for his cold butt if he doesn’t back off. Remember the Alamo and Bin Laden.

Noble Lee Lester, Arlington

Putin has behaved in a manner that reminds you of a schoolyard bully. He will continue to push you around and demand your lunch money until he is punched in the nose. President Obama naively believes he can just use rhetoric, innuendo and persuasion to turn off Putin’s aggression. Hasn’t worked up till now and probably won’t.

Mark Vause, San Jose

Better to ask Germany’s Angela Merkel, who thought Vlad sounded loopy when speaking with him on the phone.

Barbara Barsh, Avondale

Tsar Putin vs. Tsar Obama? Former KGB officer Putin is playing the international chess game like a grandmaster (much like Peter the Great). Obama is playing the game like a pigeon who knocks the pieces over, poops on the board, and then struts around (much like Tsar Nicholas II).

Dean Bird, Arlington

Mr. Obama is moving slowly. His approach is reasonable. Our president does not want another war. ... As the leader of the free world, we should support democracy and that’s exactly what Mr. Obama is doing. Time will tell if Mr. Obama’s patient and gradual approach is effective in reining in the thinly-veiled expansionist ambitions of Mr. Putin.

Robert Frank Evans, Jacksonville

President Putin is KGB trained and consequently a single-minded oppressor. He wants to return to pre-Berlin Wall days. President Obama can do very little unless he provides military aid to the Baltic area people being annexed.

George Kern, Middleburg

Putin is a strong leader. Our president thinks he has a duty to stick his nose in every country’s affairs, or bow to other world leaders, including Putin, which is disrespectful to all Americans.

Keith M. Myers, Jacksonville

There’s a world of difference between Putin and Obama. Putin is a visionary; his goal is to unify Russia and restore it to greatness. Putin’s patriotic goal is doable. The main goals of Obama’s leaders are anti-patriotic communism. Since one of Obama’s objectives are anti-patriotic, he can’t allow the patriotic military to be necessary and win a victory. Putin is checking Obama’s dedication to that goal, to see if he can re-conquer eastern Europe safely.

Tim Temple, Arlington

Putin was running KGB when the current president was on the south side of Chicago being told what to do. Putin is like a cat playing with a mouse on a square mile of linoleum. Putin just wants to play and will devour the mouse when he is no longer useful to him.

Dave Kamm, St. Johns

Perhaps, to use a little chess ability comparison, I would compare a world champion (Putin) with some “kid” just beginning to learn the rules of the game (Obama). ... World bullies only react to force and plenty of it. ... Now I am not advocating “boots on the ground;” however, moving forces “forward” to prove we will fight if necessary can force a world bully to have “second thoughts.” With forces available, diplomacy makes sense.